Vehicle weight responsive means



Jan. 29, 1957 H. L. BONE VEHICLE WEIGHT RESPONSIVE MEANS Filed Jan. 22,1954 IN V EN T 0R. Herberz L Bone United States Patent VEHICLE WEIGHTRESPONSIVE MEANS Herbert L. Bone, Forest Hills, Pa., assignor toWestinghouse Air Brake Company, Wilmerding, Pa a corporation ofPennsylvania Application January 22, 1954, Serial No. 405,647 13 Claims.(Cl. 265-27) My invention relates to a vehicle weight responsive means,and particularly to a means mounted in a slot formed in the web of arailway track rail directly under the head of the rail and responsive tothe deflection of the rail head as the car wheels pass over the slot.

In certain forms of weight measuring devices previously used, thedeflection of the entire rail between two support points was measuredand translated into weight readings. This arrangement has thedisadvantage that it requires a very rigid support and rigid railanchoring means. Other types of weight measuring devices which have beenused require entire rail sections to be supported on scales or a portionof the rail head to be cut away to provide clearance for a weightresponsive lever. The supporting of an entire rail section on scalesrequires an installation which is expensive to make and maintain, andthe cutting away of a portion of the head of a rail is objectionable dueto the resulting break in the wheel rolling surface.

It is therefore an object of my invention to provide a novel vehicleweight measuring device capable of low installation cost.

Another object of my invention is to provide a novel weight measuringdevice capable of operation in all kinds of weather conditions.

Another object of my invention is to provide a totally enclosed circuitcontroller that is capable of operation Within a slot in a rail web bycar wheels passing over the rail head.

Other objects, purposes and characteristic features of my presentinvention will be in part obvious from the accompanying drawings and inpart pointed out as the description of the invention progresses.

In the following description the slotted member is referred to as a railhaving a head, a web and a base, since this is the preferred embodiment.However, it is to be understood that a rail is merely a particular typeof beam member carrying a variable load.

My invention is therefore not to be restricted to a rail but isapplicable to any beam member having an upper portion, a web and a lowerportion.

In practicing my invention I provide a rail with an elongated slot cutin its web adjacent the head of the rail. Secured to the web of the railis a circuit controller having a portion which extends into the railslot and cooperates with the rail head so that deflection of the railhead toward the bottom of the slot will cause operation of the circuitcontroller contacts. The circuit controller may be used for any desiredpurpose such for example as providing weight information for use inautomatically controlling the braking action of a car in accordance withthe weight of the car.

The provision of a circuit controller which can be mounted in a slot inthe rail web in the manner indicated eliminates the need for special andexpensive rail supports. The type of circuit controller disclosed isalso capable of being operated through small rail head defiections, thusallowing the motion to be transmitted 2,779,583 Patented Jan. 29, 1957through the case of the controller. This permits the circuit controllerto be made weather tight.

In describing my invention in detail reference will be made to theaccompanying drawings in which corresponding parts are generallyidentified by corresponding reference characters and in which:

Fig. l is a vertical cross sectional view taken along the line il inFig. 2 and showing one form of weight responsive circuit controllerembodying my invention mounted in a slot in a rail web in accordancewith my invention.

Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of the circuit controller shown inFig. 1 with the cover of the circuit controller removed and certainparts shown in section to better illustrate the construction.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view similar to Fig. 1 showing one of the circuitcontroller contacts removed from the case and utilizing a modified formof support for the movable contacts.

Fig. 4 is a partial sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in Fig. 3showing the pivot support for the arm which supports the movable contactof Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged view of the fixed and movable contacts showing oneadjustment of each fixed contact which may be used to cause successiveclosing of the contacts due to successively greater rail headdeflections.

In classification yards the need has arisen for a quick acting weightresponsive circuit controller that will weigh a single wheel passingover a desired location without other wheels affecting the response. Theneed has arisen due to the use of automatic retarders in which it isnecessary for initial retarder shoe pressure to be established accordingto the weight per wheel of a passing vehicle, hence a lightly loadedvehicle should receive a low initial retarder pressure while a heavyvehicle would receive a high initial retarder pressure.

Referring to the drawings, the reference character 1 designates a railhaving an elongated slot 2 cut in the web 38 of the rail directly underthe head of the rail. Inserted into the slot 2 are stops 3 held inposition by bolts 4. These stops 3 are provided for the purpose oflimiting the deflection of the rail head 6 into the slot 2 by a typicalwheel 41 to an amount which will not exceed the fatigue limit of therail head 6 and accordingly are spaced from hte rail head by a gap 5which is made sufficiently small to accomplish this result.

In one preferred arrangement, for example, the slot is provided withsemicircular ends measuring 13.4 between the centers of the two endcurves and 1.31" between upper and lower slot surfaces.

The circuit controller embodying my invention in the form here shown isadapted to be secured against the Web of the rail and provided with aprojecting portion capable of being inserted into the slot 2 in the railweb, and with a removable front cover 16 making readily available theoperating contacts of the controller.

The case 7 comprises, in addition to the removable cover 16, a rear wall8, a bottom 9, side walls 14, and a resilient top 12. Extendingrearwardly from the top of the rear wall 8 is a horizontal portion 10which rests on the bottom wall of the slot 2 in the rail 1. The portien10 projects through the slot 2 and cooperates with a vertical portion 11formed on the resilient top 12. The rear wall 8 is provided withlaterally extending lugs 15 which are apertured to receive the samebolts 4 which serve to secure the limit stops 3 in place, therebyproviding a convenient means for securing the controller in place on therail.

Mounted on the upper surface of the top 12 in a position to contact theunder side of the rail head 6 is a pressure button 13. With the pressurebutton 13 in i pp r place-the circuit controllerprojection is-of agreater width than the slot 2, so that when the controller is installedthe resilient top 12 is slightly depressed. This forces the pressurebutton 13 firmly againstthe under side of the rail head 6 and-theportion of the projection firmly against the bottom-surface of the'slot2;

One of the side walls 14 is apertured and threaded as at'36 to receive aWeather tight connector 37 for sealing and securing a cable 43 in place.The case cover 16 which is of rectangular box like construction-isprovided'with a gasket 17 adjacent its outeredge'and-securing lugs40 oneach side. The parts are-so proportioned that when the cover is in placethe gasket cooperates with the outer edges of the bottom 9, side walls14 and top 12 to seal the case against the entranceof moisture, dirt orthedike.

It should be particularly noted that the bolts 4 which are used to hold,the stops 3 in place, not only secure the case '1 against theweb 38, butalso receive the cover lugs 40 for h0lding the cover tightly in place.This arrangement allows rapid and simple installation of the device.

tedlwithin the case '7 on supporting members 19 provided on the sideWalls 14 is an insulating member 18 the rear end of which rests firmlyon top of the rearwardly projecting base portion 10. Secured to theinsulating memberlS are a plurality of fixed contacts 20, held in placeby bolts 21 and adjustable to diiierent contacting'positions byassociated adjusting screws 22. Cooperating with the fixed. contacts area plurality of I movable contacts ,23 supported on a single U-shapedspring support arm 24 attached to the insulating member 18- by bolts25.. The movable contact supporting portion of the U-shaped support isreinforced by a bridge member 26. e One ofvthe U-shapedsupport holdingbolts 25 receives the flexible lead Wire 44 of the cable 43 forelectrical connection to the movable. contacts 23.

Located between the U -shaped support arml24jand the resilient uppercover 12 isaninsulated opera ting 'block27. This block 2.7 transmits allrail head deflections-tothe support arml24.

. The modified formof contact structure shown in'Fig. 3 difiers from,that shown in Fig. 1 the construction of the supporting meansior themovable contacts 23. As hereshown,,the-movable. contacts v23 aresupported 10 11 a. single, pivoted support arm 28 reinforced by a bridgemember 29.

The pivoted support armisdbiasedi upwardlyby a biasing spring to aposition inwhich the movable contacts 23 areout of contactwith the fixedcontactsli).

Electrical connection with the movable contacts is provided by aflexible lead 42 secured to a terminal AS Shown inH Fig; 4, the;pivotal: support fortthe arm ;2,8 comprises a shaft. 3 4 tormedwithtrunnionfiz journalled n bearing memher 31 mountedin upstanding lugs 30provided on theinsulating member 18.

Referring-now to Fig. 5, I havehere shownqon an en- ,larged scale thepositions of the'fixed contacts 20 with .respect to the movable contacts23. The difference in I ,theradjustment of the contacts is obtained bymeans of p the adjusting screws .It is obvious from Fig. 5 thatwiththepontacts adjusted ash-shown a s mall deflection ,of the covermember 12 will. cause the rightlhand con- H tacts to close, while asomewhat greater deflection will cause the center contacts to close anda still greater deiiection will cause the left hand set of contacts toclose.

With the controller constructed and arranged in the manner described itwill be obvious that each car wheel will cause the railhead to deflectit passes over the slot '2, thus narrowing the. slot. ,This movement istransmitted through thebutton l3, the resilient upper cover 12, and theinsulated operating block 27 to the movable contacts support arm 24,causing this arm to move downwardly against, the bias for the arm.Assuming that the wheel is on an empty car (approximately 20 tons) thewheel would exert a 5000 pound load on the rail. Accordingly, if it isdesired to have one of the contacts operate in response to a lightweightcar, this contact would have to be adjusted by means of the associatedscrew 22 so that the associated'movable contact member would engage theassociatedfixed contact member in response to the resulting deflectionof the rail head.

Similar operations, would occur for medium weight cars (approximately 40tons'total; 10,000 pounds per wheel) and heavycarstover 60 tons total;15,000 pounds per wheel) by providing the successive adjustment of theremaining contacts. Obviously, with such an ad justment of thethreecontacts two of the contacts would close each time a wheel of themedium weight car passed over the slot and all three contacts wouldbecome closed each time-a wheel of a heavy car passed over the slot.

Should theload of a passing vehicle greatly exceed'the heavy loadcondition, the stop, members 3 would be engaged by the rail head 6, thusavoiding any rail head or circuit controller damage.

It is to be understood that it is within the scope of my invention tovary: the rail slot position, shape and size to obtain the amount ofrail head deflection desired.

It is to be further understood that it is within the scope ofmy'invention to use other types of circuit control means with a slottedrail.

Although I have herein shown and described only two 1 forms of circuitcontroller embodying my invention, it is to be understood that variouschanges and modifications may be made therein within the scope of theappended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of myinvention. I

Having thus described my invention, whatl claim is: 1. In a, device ofthe class described, in combination, a beam member, comprising an upperportion, a web and a lower portion, a slot formed in said web betweensaid upper portion and said lower portion, said slot being controllerbeing totally enclosed withina weather tight case, said case beingprovide'd with a resilient slot receiving portion such that allmovements of the upper portion into said'slot will be. transmittedthrough said case to said circuit controller contacts. y

2. In a device of the class described;in cornbinat1on, a

rail comprising a head, a web and a base, a slot formed in said rail webbetween saidhead and said baseQsaid slot being inthe form of anelongated opening located with its long dimension disposedlongitudinally of the rail and substantially adjacent said rail head,and means located within said slot responsive to said rail headdisplacementinto saidslot, said slot located means comprising a circuitcontroller with a plurality of fixed and movable contacts, said circuitcontroller being t'dtally enclosed within a weather tight case, saidcase being provided with a resilient slot receiving portion such thatall movements of the rail head into said'slot will be transmittedthrough said case to said circuit controller contacts, said casecontaining .an insulating member supported on. said insulating member,saidv movable conslot receiving portion of said case such that rail headdeflection is translated into resilient case deflection and contactoperation.

3. In a device of the class described, in combination, a rail comprisinga head, a Web and a base, a slot formed in said rail web between saidhead and said base, said slot being in the form of an elongated openinglocated with its long dimension disposed longitudinally of the rail andsubstantially adjacent said rail head, and means located within saidslot responsive to said rail head dis placement into said slot, saidslot being provided with stop means for preventing said rail head fromdeflecting beyond its fatigue limit, said slot located means comprisinga circuit controller with a plurality of fixed and movable contacts,said circuit controller being totally enclosed within a weather tightcase, said case being provided with a resilient slot receiving portionsuch that all movements of the rail head into said slot are transmittedthrough said case to said circuit controller contacts, said casecontaining an insulating member rigidly attached to said case with saidfixed contacts supported on said insulating member, said movablecontacts being movably supported on said insulating member withoperating means extended into said resilient slot receiving portion ofsaid case such that rail head deflection is translated into resilientcase deflection and contact operation.

4. In a device of the class described, in combination, a rail comprisinga head, a web and a base, a slot formed in said rail web between saidhead and said base, said slot being in the form of an elongated openinglocated with its long dimzision disposed longitudinally of the rail andsubstantially adjacent said rail head, and means located within saidslot responsive to said rail head displacement into said slot, said slotbeing provided with stop means for preventing said rail head fromdeflecting beyond its fatigue limit, said slot located means comprisinga circuit controller with a plurality of fixed and movable contacts,

said circuit controller being totally enclosed within a weather tightcase, said case being provided with a resilient slot receiving portionsuch that all movements of the rail head into said slot will betransmitted through said case to said circuit controller contacts, saidcase containing an insulating member rigidly attached to said case withsaid fixed contacts supported on said insulating member, said movablecontacts being movably supported on said insulating member withoperating means extended into said resilient slot receiving portion ofsaid case such that rail head deflection is translated into resilientcase deflection and contact operation, said movable contacts beingsupported adjacent one end of a U-shaped spring means, the other end ofsaid U-shaped spring means being secured to said insulating member, saidU-shaped spring means holding said movable and fixed contacts separatedunder non-deflection of said rail head.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a rail comprisinga head, a web and a base, a slot formed in said rail web between saidhead and said base, said slot being in the form of an elongated openinglocated with its long dimension disposed longitudinally of the rail andsubstantially adjacent said rail head, and means located within saidslot responsive to said rail head displacement into said slot, said slotbeing provided with stop means for preventing said rail head fromdeflecting beyond its fatigue limit, said slot located means comprisinga circuit controller with a plurality of fixed and movable contacts,said circuit controller being totally enclosed within a weather tightcase, said case being provided with a resilient slot receiving portionsuch that all movements of the rail head into said slot will betransmitted through said case to said circuit controller contacts, saidcase containin an insulating member rigidly attached to said case withsaid fixed contacts supported on said insulating member, said movablecontacts being movably supported on said insulating member withoperating means extended into said resilient slot receiving portion ofsaid case such that rail head deflection is translated into resilientcase deflection and contact operation, said movable contacts beingsupported by a pivoted arm, said pivoted arm being spring biased to anopen-contact position under rail head non-deflection condition.

6. A circuit controller comprising a case, a plurality of fixed contactsand a plurality of movable contacts; said case comprising a rear wallwith a projecting portion extended rearwardly thereof, a bottom, sidewalls, and a "11""02tt =aid projecting portion being provided with abase and a vertical wall along the rearward edge of said projection basesaid vertical Wall being integral with said resilient top, an insulatingmember mounted to rest firmly on said projection base, said insulatingmember having said fixed contacts mounted thereon, said movable contactsbeing mounted on a movable support arm that is secured to saidinsulating member, insulated operating means located between saidresilient top and said movable support arm such that all deflections ofsaid resilient top are translated to said movable contacts, said fixedcontacts being provided with an adjustable means for adjusting the gapsbetween said fixed and movable contacts, cover means for said case, andsecuring means for holding said cover against the outward edges of saidbottom, said side walls and said resilient top.

7. An enclosed weather-tight circuit controller comprising a case, aplurality of fixed contacts and a plurality of movable contacts, saidcase comprising a rear wall with a projecting ortion extended rearwardlythereof, a bottom, side walls, and a resilient top, said projectingportion being provided with a base, and a vertical wall along therearward edge of said projection base, said vertical wal being integralwith said resilient top, an insulating member mounted to rest firmly onsaid projection base, said insulating member having said fixed contactsmounted thereon, said movable contacts being mounted on a support arm,said support arm being pivotally connected to said insulating member andbiased to a contact open position, insulated operating means locatedbetween said support arm and said resilient top such that alldeflections of said resilient top are transmitted to said movablecontacts, said fixed contacts being provided with adjustable means forsetting the clearance between said fixed and movable contacts, covermeans for said case, and securing means for holding said cover in placeagainst said bottom, side walls and resilent top, gasket means forsealing said cover against weather leakage.

8. A circuit controller for use in a rail having a slotted web, saidcircuit controller comprising a case provided with a projection arrangedto be received within said slot, said case being provided with aremovable cover, and fixed and movable contacts located within saidcase, said fixed contacts being mounted on an insulating means withinsaid case, said movable contacts being supported on operating meansresponsive to deflection of said projection portion of said case suchthat narrowing of said slot will cause projection case deflection,operating means movement and contact operation.

9. A circuit controller for use in a member having a slotted Web, saidcircuit controller comprising a case provided with a projection arrangedto be received within said slot, said case being provided with aremovable cover, fixed and movable contacts located within said case,said fixed contacts being mounted on an insulating means with in saidcase, said movable contacts being supported on operating meansresponsive to deflection of a portion of said case over said projectionsuch that narrowing of said slot will cause projection case deflection,and operating means movement and contact operation, said operating meanscomprising a U-shaped leaf spring and a cooperating insulating blocksecured to said projection portion of said case, said U-shaped leafspring being secured to said insulating means adjacent one of the endsof said 7 spring with said movable contacts mounted on the other end.

'10. In a rail having a head, a web and a base, an elongated slot formedin said web adjacent said head, means within said slot responsive tosaid rail head defiection into saidslot, said means being a circuitcontroller comprising a case, a plurality of fixed contacts and aplurality of movable contacts, said case comprising a rear wall with aprojecting portion extended rearwardly thereof, a bottom, side walls,and a resilient top, said projecting portion being provided with a baseand a vertical wall, along the rearward edge or" said projection base,said vertical wall being integral with said resilient top, an insulatingmember mounted to rest firmly on said projection base, said insulatingmember having said fixed contacts mounted thereon, said movable contactsbeing mounted on a movable support arm that is secured to saidinsulating inember, insulated operating means located between saidresilient top and said movable support arm such that all defiections ofsaid resilient top are translated to said. movable contacts, said fixedcontacts being provided with an adjustable means for adjusting the gapsbetween said fixed and movable contacts, cover means for said case, andsecuring means for holding said cover against the outward edges of saidbottom, said side walls and said resilient top.

11. In a device of the class described, in combination, a railcomprising a head, a web and a base, a slot formed in said rail webbetween the head and base and sufficiently close to said head to cause agreater head than base de flection upon a railhead carried load, andmeans located Within said slot responsive to said greater headdeflection and narrowing of said slot.

12. In a device of the class described, in combination, a beamcomprising an upper portion, an intermediate portion and a lowerportion,'a slot formed in said intermediate portion between said upperand lower portions and sufliciently close to said upper portion to causea downward deflection of said upper portion resulting in a narrowing ofsaid slot in response to a load applied to said upper portion above saidslot, stop means located in said slot to limit said upper portiondeflection to a value within its fatigue limit, and means located withinsaid slot rcsponsive to said upper portion deflection.

13. in a device of the class described, in combination, a beam having anupper portion, an intermediate portion and a lower portion, a slotformed in said intermediate portion between said upper and lowerportions and sufiiciently close to said upper portion to cause adownward deflection of said upper portion resulting in a narrowing ofsaid slot in response to a load applied to said upper portion above theslot, a circuit controller having an operating means located within saidslot and arranged to respond to said upper portion deflection, fixedcontacts mounted on an insulating means within said circuit controiler,movable contacts supported in said circuit controller in a position tocooperate with said fixed con-- tacts, said circuit controller operatingmeans being arranged to actuate said movable contacts in response tosaid beam upper portion deflection such that a narrowing of said slotwill cause movable contact operating means movement and contactoperation.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,338,647 Froggatt Apr. 27, 1920 1,708,333 Smith Apr. 9, 1929 2,036,458Carlson Apr. 7, 1936 2,195,451 Edwards (1) Apr. 2, 1940 2,370,784Edwards (2) Mar. 6, 1945 2,499,033 Oberholtzer Feb. 28, 1950 2,543,794Mayer Mar. 6, 1951 2,646,904 Chodziesner July 28, 1953 2,666,262 RugeIan. 9, 1954 FOREIGN PATENTS 829,805 Germany I an. 28, 1952

